Dynamometer racing simulator

Abstract

A system for computer dynamometer testing while running an auto racing simulation. The combination increases the entertainment value of testing through a real-time interactive racing simulation. The system includes a vehicle testing station such as a conventional chassis dynamometer with digital feedback and load control for automatically increasing or decreasing the load applied to the vehicle wheels under test, a programmable test controller connected to the digital feedback unit for collecting data, and also connected to the load control assembly for controlling the dynamic load applied to the wheels of the vehicle. In addition, a simulation computer is connected to the programmable test controller and includes diagnostic software for analyzing said data, simulation software for running a synchronized race simulation based on the data, and report generation software for generating the diagnostic report based on the analyzed data. The race simulation is displayed to the driver of the test vehicle on a video display suspended immediately in front. Test data is collected during the simulation and is analyzed to ascertain the engine performance of the test vehicle. Given a proper analysis, a comprehensive driver performance report based on the test data is printed so that the driver can evaluate repair/performance enhancement scenarios. The repair/performance enhancement scenarios are correlated to a database of sponsor/advertiser profiles, and in each report a recommended sponsor is identified to provide the necessary goods and services. The system helps to standardizes and guide the dynamometer sampling to determine existing conditions, and automates the data collection and analysis phase, generating a comprehensive report outlining appropriate performance enhancement/repair scenarios for the customer.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method for dynamometer testing of a vehicle while providing its driver with an interactive racing simulation experience, comprising: 
 registering a driver onsite by inputting a record of the driver and details of their automobile;    driving said automobile onto a dynamometer;    choosing a race simulation opponent from a central database of driver/auto profiles;    generating a race simulation, the simulation being synchronized to feedback from said dynamometer during the simulation;    collecting test data from said dynamometer and analyzing said data to ascertain the engine performance of said test vehicle;    providing said driver with a comprehensive driver performance report based on said test data.    
     
     
         2 . The method for dynamometer testing of a vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of analyzing said test data to articulate specific performance improvement measures to said driver in said comprehensive driver performance report.  
     
     
         3 . The method for dynamometer testing of a vehicle according to  claim 2 , further comprising the step of comparing said driver performance report with a database of advertising sponsors capable of providing the specific performance improvement measures and recommending a sponsor to said driver.  
     
     
         4 . A combination dynamometer and racing simulator system, comprising: 
 a chassis dynamometer having at least one roller-mounting for rotatably seating the wheels of a test vehicle during stationery testing, said vehicle testing station also including a digital feedback unit connected to said roller-mountings for providing digital feedback data, and a load control assembly for automatically increasing or decreasing the load applied to the test vehicle wheels;    a programmable test controller connected to said digital feedback unit for collecting test data therefrom, and connected to said load control assembly for controlling the dynamic load applied to the test vehicle wheels;    a simulation computer connected to said programmable test controller, said simulation computer incorporating diagnostic software for analyzing said data, simulation software for running a synchronized race simulation in accordance with said data, and report generation software for generating a user-friendly diagnostic report based on the analyzed data;    a driver simulation display terminal for displaying said synchronized race simulation to the driver of a test vehicle.    
     
     
         5 . The combination dynamometer and racing simulator system according to  claim 4 , wherein said simulation software reads a driver profile of the participant's car, allows selection of a profile for a competing car, and then runs a synchronized race simulation using said profiles and in accordance with said test data.  
     
     
         6 . The combination dynamometer and racing simulator system according to  claim 5 , wherein said simulation computer is connected to a central monitoring station via a wide area network.  
     
     
         7 . The combination dynamometer and racing simulator system according to  claim 6 , wherein said central monitoring station maintains a database of profiles for drivers and their vehicles that have used the system.  
     
     
         8 . The combination dynamometer and racing simulator system according to  claim 7 , wherein said central monitoring station also maintains a database of advertisers.  
     
     
         9 . The combination dynamometer and racing simulator system according to  claim 7 , wherein each profile record initially comprises a set of standard digital engine performance specifications for an identified car model.  
     
     
         10 . The combination dynamometer and racing simulator system according to  claim 9 , wherein said simulation computer contains a firs t library of profile records of standard performance specifications for a plurality of identified car models.  
     
     
         11 . The combination dynamometer and racing simulator system according to  claim 10 , wherein said simulation computer builds a second library of customer profile records associated with each participating driver, each customer profile record further comprising a subset of said standard performance specifications for said driver's identified car model supplemented by actual collected diagnostic data.  
     
     
         12 . The combination dynamometer and racing simulator system according to  claim 4 , further comprising a trailer for transportable mounting of said chassis dynamometer.  
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a dynamometer and racing simulator, comprising the steps of: 
 conducting diagnostic simulations for drivers and their cars at a test site using a chassis dynamometer in communication with a simulation computer, said simulation computer incorporating diagnostic software for analyzing said cars, and said simulation computer incorporating simulation software for running a synchronized race simulation to entertain said drivers during analysis, whereupon a diagnostic profile is associated with each driver and their car based upon their diagnostic simulation; and    a web portal including a central web server for maintaining a library of said diagnostic profiles to facilitate competitive racing simulations from a remote personal computer.